Art of the transmission of sound waves



Jul 14, 1931. CSA. LINTON 1,814,603

ART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheetl 6 'igzgmvlzfnorp July 14, 1931. c. A. LINTON 1,814,603

ART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet2 a INVENTOF Q Jxily 14, 1931. A. LINTON 1,814,603

' ART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 7Sheets-Sheet 3' 5 6% I INVENTR' July 14,1931. c. A. LINTON ART OF THETRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 gm '2INVEIIQTOR July 14,1931. (3. A. LINTON 1,814,603

- ART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 7Sheets-Sheet 5 July 14, 1931. c. A. LINTQN 1,814,303

ART OF THE TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4. 1927 7Sheets-Sheet. 6

g INVENTOB July 14, 1931. c. A. LINTON S ,814,5 3 I ART OF THETRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES Filed Aug. 4, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 PatentedJuly 14, 1931 i UNITED STATES CHESTER AIFR-ED Huron, OF KANSAS c11 1,misson'ni ART on THE rnAnsiviiisslor'r' or souiin WAvns Continuation ofapplication Serial m.- eeegisag rues October 4, This application filedAugust 4', 1927.

' serial No. 210,657.

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for transmittingsoundwuves, and the-object" of my invention is a device through whichsoundwa-ves may be transmitted from the sound box or vibratory source tothe delivery end at the device while being modified by seeoi'rda'ryVibrations generuted by he walls or certain parts of the body of thedevice through which the sound Weivesfr'om the sound-boxer *i-brsl'o'rysource ure transmitted,- the generic invention and a} number ofspec'iesth'ereof being claimed by me in copendi-ng Zippli CfiftiOHS, 11s: ielyScriul No. 424347, filed hyme on November 16;,

, 1920, and entitled Phonograph sound amplifiers u Serial No. 666 489,-tiled by me on ()ctol1 er"4l-,- 1923,: and en t ed Aceusticel ap purutusfor tailoringmaehinesi In this applicu tion. I shall describe and cht'imanother form: of the SQJFHQ invention;

This application is a continuation of my copending?'upplicstionserialNo. 666,489, referred to above, and wherein-I show a plurality ofmembers extending from a body adapted for. resonance.

It will be seen this inventioncontemplates aplurality of tubular p'oens; well as one tubular portion), present in" the construction of thedevice and each-of these tubular portions may be adapted in whole or inpart to take particular advantage of the features of structure iii-thenovel system that consti tutes a generic principle of m in ention.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide in :1 device of ti's-ch-uructer an imp're-ved bell portion for various; phonographs uudother sound protecting instri-imei-its, to provide a, large sound board"for all acoustical 1 'ices he ring the maximum or suitable res, .enceand the effective shape and mass to attain the resonance frequenciesordinarily larc ring in certain musics-l instrun'ients and the like, toprovide a siinihi-r sound board of suitable clisi-"ueteristics the-t iseasily adapted fore phonograph and that iseu'sytoassemble.

i will describe in ii'rv'ention as applied to a phonograph, Wherethesounds transmitted are amplified and where sympathetic vibration isaccomplished by means of structure in HD1105 with the vibrating aircolumn. 1 \"LJ it understood, however, that the same system may be usedfor concentrating sounds in an instrument or for transmitting soundsCOX-68811312913 chambers or for other purposes as may hereinafter beapparent.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional ViGW taken through a phonogruph mysound transmitting apparatus shown applied therein being made inaccordance with the inve tion;

Figure 2 a horizontal sectiei-isl'view taken on the broken line ofFigure 1,-certuin features bein shownout of scale forpurposes of illusiutiom parts of the amplifying portions being shown in dotted linesthrough one s l board member;

Figure is s ecn-trel erticui sectional View of wl iriis shown by numeral48, showing an internal air space in the member Figure d is a rear Viewtaken through the phonograph cabinet oelow the motor board on the lineil of Figure 1 showing one support member of the tube 1" the soundtransmitting system in section, and showing the manner in which thelarge sound board can be built up;

Figure 5 freiginentz'iry YlQW of the tube, she-win sound boardsconneoted'on each side thereo t Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 4with the large som'id board omitted. -us showing the tubular outlets oneither side of the central stein oi? the sound transmitting system;

Figure 7 is a central vertical sectional View of substantially what isshown in the in in Figure 2, of the t irout tube and the central bell ofthe apparatus; and is taken on the line 7 of Figure 2, on it reduced thecabinet below the motor board on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, showing apart broken away and showing tubular portions partly enclosed by opposedsound boards;

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section of a modification takenon a line similar to line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a front elevation of what is shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top view of the central portions of the soundtransmitting apparatus with certain parts removed to show the generalconstruction more clearly;

Figure 12 is a similar view to what is shown in Figure 11 with less ofthe poriions being shown, and with the divided bell portion having theupper part thereof omitted to show its interior, certain outward partsbeing shown in modification;

Figure 13 is a top view of the central stem or throat as shown inFigures 11 and 12, with parts of the apparatus shown by way ofmodification;

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of the tubular portionsshown in Figure 12, showing one side of the outer belllike portion openfor emitting and for resonating the sound;

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 15-15 ofFigure 5, of ene of the segments forming the large sound board shown asextending from side to side of the device;

Figures 16, 17 and 18 are transverse sectional views of modified formsof what is shown in Figure 15.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the numeral 7 indicates aphonograph comprising a cabinet 8 with a usual cover 9 which swings on ausual hinge 10. Numeral 11 indicates a motor hung beneath a motor boardor partition 12 and connected to or associated with a turn table 13. Onthe. partition or board 12 is mounted a swinging tone arm 14, carrying asound l)OX or reproducer or vibratory device 15, to which is attached inany suitable operable manner a stylus or needle or guide 16 adapted tooperate over a record 17, as shown. To the sound box or reproducer orvibratory device 15, vhicl may be adapted to operate electrically, areconnected wires 18 and 19, shown merely to illustrate that this form ofmy invention need not be limited or restricted to one method ofutilizing or impressing sound impulses in connection with the apparatus.

Below the partition 12 is a continuation of the sound transmittingapparatus adapted to register with the tone arm 14 by means of thetubular throat 20 which extends downwardly and is then curved forwardly,and the said throat preferably increases in size from the end 21 thereofto the end 22. The increase in size of the throat 20 may be relative toany or all the following factors;

namely: of the effective sound energy to be impressed into use in thevibratory system, the volume of sound desired in a given instrument suchas a phonograph being described, the thickness of the material formingthe walls of the throat, the kind and shape of the material employed,the effective elasticity and inertia of the material present underoperating conditions, and the response frequency of the material whenthe same is subject to stress in the sound transmitting apparatus. Thesesame factors, as well as others, may apply to other parts of theapparatus being described, when determining the forms of the variousparts and their interrelations to accomplish the objects set forth orwhich may become apparent as the description proceeds.

Since it is desirable that the tones emitted by an instrument come abouton the level with a person listening to the same, the throat tube 20 ispreferably connected with and merges into a bell portion 23 about midwayof the height of the large chamber C the cabinet. The bell portion 23 isthus nded forward leaving a sufficient air space in front and on thesides thereof for the remainder of the apparatus, the shape of the bellbeing arbitrary. However, in this instance, a diverging bell portion isin the construction, the top face 2st thereof and the bottom face 25being substantially without curvature. These said faces 24: and 25 maybe formed as desired, and the dividing lines shown in Figures 7 and 8may partly serve to illustrate this point. One or more sound outlets maybe provided; and, for example, connected respectively on opposite sidesof, in this instance, the bell 23, are bell like members 26 arranged tocontinue the air passage or tubular part of the apparatus. These belllike members may be positioned as desired and unite at any point withthe tube if suitable; however, their divergent positions in the formshown are in a direction the reverse to the bell 22'), their small ornarrow ends being adjacent the large end of the bell 2:3. Theconnections are so made and the air passage so continued as to leave asound hole 27 in the upper part of the bell 23 adj aeent the forward endthereof, and the said sound hole preferably extends the full width ofthe bell 23 and, by reason of the division of the passage into aplurality of outlets, there e'l't or provided, in this instance, acurved ,haped wall 28 forming the outer side or orward part of the bell23; and the inner ioint of this V-shapcd wall may serve to livide thebel 28 into two chambers or parts toward the outer extremity thereof.Thus it that the impre sed sound waves may be deflected to eithe' sideof the apparatus or of the bell 23 through the air passage 29 and intothe bell like members 26.

The outer walls 30 and the inner walls 31 like members 26 may be suitablof belllike. members 26' may have suitable curvature, and the saidWall28, illustrated in the formshown in Figure 7, oins or continues ineffect as an integral wall with the curvatures of the walls 30. The belllike members 26 may have two or three or more walls, (see Figure 7), andwhen four Walls are provided the said walls 30 and 31 and the lowerwalls 32 and the upper walls 33 may diverge, for example, rearwardly,and

orifices or outlets of the completed bell like members 2-6 may besuitably arranged adjacent the end 22 of the throat tube 20; in thiscase the ends of said members 26 are laterally disposed respectively asindicated in Figures 1 and 2 with orifices at right angles to the throattube 20, with surfaces of said orifices in alinement one with the other;in other words, there is a balanced pair of effective vibratory elementsto the right and left of the central stem of the sound transmit-tingapparatus. Each lower wall 32 and each upper wall 33 may terminate shortof the end of its respective supporting wall or Walls. The inner wallsor resonant bodies 31 may be respectively connected to the end 22 of thethroat tube 20 with one or more resonant elements 34, as indicated inFigure 6, thereby permitting certain vibratory im- 0 pressed impulses ofa properly calculated or measured frequency to enter the said walls orbodies 31 from the said tube 20 through the said elements 34 or thelike.

Arranged upon opposite sides of the bell sound boards of preferablyequal area and of like characteristics, and preferably their responsefrequency characteristics in the combinationare prefigured or calculatedby experiment,- as this latter factor is of particular value in anapparatus of this generic type. Sound boards or the like 35, forexample, are con nected in any desired manner to, and spanning, outletends of the respective walls 32 and 33, to form bridge like memberstransversely of the bell sections of the apparatus. The construction maybe such as to form an unbroken bridge from one tube or bell like amember 26 to the other tube or bell like memher 26, and, also, theconstruction may be such as to extend laterally beyond the bell likemembers 26, and, also, it may be such as indicated in Figure 6, thesound board bridge like members 35 being shown securely connectedstraight across from one side to the other side of the cabinet 8. Inthis latter form the said members 35' may contact with tube 20, orslight air gaps may be left between tube 20- and said members 35: as tothis, other features of construction may be considered. Members 35 mayform a spaced apart encircling hoop about the forward part of the bellsections, Figure 9, being in this figure as one member by reason of thejuncture of the parts; likewise, members 3'5 may have any desired shapein cross section, such, for instance, as forming a portion of animaginary ellipse, circle or rectangle. Further, said members 35 maypartially encircle forward parts of the bell sections. As illustrated inFigures 1 and 6 the said members 35 are spaced away from the bellportion 23 and from the lower part of the end 22 of the tube 20 and fromthe bell like members 26, except as before stated, and this particularconstruction leaves an open space in front of the apparatus or of thebell sections, thereby affording an outlet for the sound vibrations whenthe apparatus is in use. In this manner said members 35 may have ahorizontal air space, as indicated at 36, between their forwardterminations that is of any desired width. No attempt has been made tohave the drawings answer the purpose of shop drawings, therefore thescale to which the various views are drawn is not to be considered as alimitation or restriction of this form of my invention.

In the combination of the parts of this apparatus and spaced from andinside or adjacent sound boards 35 may be a plurality of elevated bridgelike vibratory members 37 respectively connecting desired points on thebell 23 with desired points on the bell like members 26. In F igures 1and 6 said members 37 are shown in the construction as being on theupper and lower sides respectively of the bell sections and connectedthereto as may be desired or possible and transversely of the bellsections. Connecting the sound boards 35 to each other and connectingthe outlet or diverging ends of hell like members 26 on the outer sidesof same with cabinet 8 are in this instance provic ed sound boards 38,as shown in Figure 6. Air spaces such as indicated at 39 may be providedif desired, and any kind or shape of such air spaces may be omitted insome combinations. A large sound board 40 may extend from partition 12to partition or sound board 41 of cabinet 8, for example, as indicatedin Figure 1, and sound board 40 may be in effect and in fact acontinuous board and be effective like continuous surfaces in theposition it may occupy. In one form of construction sound board 40 isformed of a series of segments 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 respectivelyconnected edge to edge and with portions of the sides of said segmentsin this instance respectively securely connected. Segment 42' isconnected to partition 12 adjacent the opening in cabinet 8 like theremaining segments, and to the said tube 20. Segments or sound boards 43are connected to the hroat tube 20 on opposite sides thereofrespectively. Segment 44, constituted in this instance by a V-shapedboard, which may be carved out centrally in this case to re ceive thethroat tube 20 therethrough, is

connected centrally, Figure 4, with the throat tube 20. Air spaces 47adjacent said tube 20 may be provided if desired, and air spaces such asa7, for example, may be omitted in one form of construction. Segments4-5 extend straight across, preferably in parallel relation, from oneside to the other side of cabinet 8. Segment 4G is connected to thelower partition or sound board 41 of cabinet 8 near the opening of saidcabinet and extends diagonally rearwardly across cabinet to completesound board 40. Sound board 40 is shaped in this example to formabifurcated continuation of expanding tubes having their outlets merginginto the atmosphere at the forward part of the cabinet. Sound board 40,or any part thereof, may be of any desired shape, size or tension andmay be formed of material without segments therein. it is shown heldunder tension or secured by a plurality of abbreviated wires or the likeor similar elements connected to member 52 and numbered 54; and thesesaid wires or elements may be connected in any of the positions of theother members where novelty results. Sound board 40 may contact orconnect with bell like members 26, as shown, Figure 1. It is understoodthat a high ten sion put upon the sound boards between the cabinet wallswould cause the cabinet walls to buckle outward if strained too much.

In Figures 1 and 4 are shown vibratory members 48, 49 and 52 that may beattached to sound board 40 at any desired point thereon; and in Figure 3is illustrated one size and shape that members 48 may take. Vibratorymember 49 is shown, for example, as being formed of a plurality of partswhich may be united in any desired manner, the part 50 thereof beingshown connected to part 51, which may permit, at certain inclinations,of acoustic torsion in the sound board 40. Vibratory member 52, shown inone position as formed of a plurality of elements, may be arrangedtransversely of sound board, or at any desired angle or slope thereto,as may be desired. Said member 52 may be of the same or of differentstructure than sound board 40, and it also may be formed of one integralpiece. Another form of member 53 may connect the throat tube 20 with anadjacent wall of cabinet 8, shown in Figure 1 at an angle to and betweenthe parts named.

The form shown in Figure 12 may be useful as illustrated, i. e. withouta top face to the portion of bell 23 shown. Members shown as exteriormembers 55, which may be interior members in one form of construction,are connected to the device. In the modification shown in Figure 13,vibratory members 56 are connected to the diverging walls. Nor is itdeemed necessary to say that the walls may be of any known material, ifa new result may be accomplished within the scope of this invention. Themodification in Figure 14 may have a bell like member 57, similar to onemember 26 but with one side open, and having walls that are parallel toeach other.

It is an important function of this sound transmitting apparatus tobring about and to properly transmit and conmninicate sympatheticvibration of calculated characteristics to certain resonant parts ofsaid apparatus, to be able to obtain certain music and voice frequenciesneeded to mimic the original sounds, (see my first mentioned copendingapplication for patent, wherein means are described for utilizingviln'ations in an acoustic device). For example, when acoustic waves orvibratory impulses are impressed into use by means of sound box orreproducer or vibratory device, such as shown for instance in thedrawings, the acoustic waves or impulses will progress through the tubemembers, the selected sound boards will have response frequenciesaccording to conditions imposed on them in structural relations andtheir elastic masses will therefore have their effect upon the vibratingair column to produce the desired effect.

The plurality of sound outlets increases the volume of acoustic wavesover that that my be obtained with an ordinary small amplifier. Thisform of my invention contemplates a plurality of tubes or series oftubes arranged in any desired manner, to which may be adapted thestructural features of the generic principles of my invention. Aplurality of air passages is illustrated in my second named co-pendingapplication for patent, and vibratory members or sound boards of variousshapes, sizes, placements, etc, are described and claimed in both myhereinbefore named co-pending applications for patent; therefore furtherexplanation here may be unnecessary. This application for patent is notto be considered as a limitation or restriction in any manner whatsoeverof my herein before mentioned co-pending applications for United StatesLetters Patent.

By having a sound hole in the bell portion, more resiliency is obtainedand the amplitude of vibration correspondingly increased. A perfectlyrigid bell would reduce the efficiency of the tube and of the soundtransmitting apparatus. Due to the V-shaped arrangement, if the V-shapedwall, in this instance, of the central bell were attached firmlythroughout its upper edge to the upper wall of said bell, the stiffnessfactor of the transmitting system would not allow said upper wall tovibrate freely. I claim a sound hole in my said co-pending applicationfor Patent Serial No. 666,489. The sound hole may be omitted in one formof construction. thinness of material being recognized as desirable.

As shown, vibratory effects may have either a mechanical or electricalsource that are em ployed in producing the results here sought.

The invention is designed for use not only in the radio art, but inother acoustic fields, including the phonographic art and the productionand reproduction of music and speech. The same system of transmittingacoustic or vibratory impulses may have other uses, or be used in orwith other systems. It will often be useful to employ the invention inone aspect only, as well as in any suitable combination.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In an acoustic device, sheet material adapted for vibratorypurposes,and abbrviated filamentous means connected therewith, said means atangles to particular parts only of said sheet material for tensicningthe same, and for operatively vibrating therewith, the relations ofelasticities and masses in said sheet material and in said means be ingfound in the adaptation, whereby the use of said means in connectiontherewith ol tains differing properly spaced areas of resonance for arequired scale of forced fre quencies.

2. An acoustic device for radio use, comprising sheet material forreceiving and distributing resonance, and tuned tensioned means of smallmass connected with a point thereof for introducing by natural frequencymeans a. vibratory strain therein.

3. An acoustic device comprising a sound board, and means of determinedfrequency, said means operably engaged against a selected surface ofsaid sound board and preferably in line with a point of decided resonance therein, primarily to introduce a tuned stress otherwise absenttherein, whereby resonance frequencies thus individually controlled insaid sound board will be of calculated effectiveness.

4. In an acoustic device, a sounding element of determined frequency, anadjacent individual support member fixed thereto, and short vibratorysecuring means between said sounding element and said support member forpermanently tensioning a given area only of said sounding element,whereby resonance frequencies have appreciable junction and harmony withthe path of origin.

5. An acoustic device comprising enclosing Walls, a flexible diaphragmelement, said element supported by and connected between said walls, andelevated means of substantially no mass bearing against said elementthereby to indirectly introduce a desired strain therein, for thepurpose of attaining the full range of voice frequencies from saiddevice.

6. In an acoustic apparatus, a sound board .coextensive therewith,resonant members in spaced relation thereto, and a tubular body havingtwo outlets, said body being joined with said sound board, therebyhaving a large reflecting surface for sound impulses focussed upon saidsound board from said tubular body, and thereby changing the compositionof the sound waves progressing through the walls of said tubular body,and thereby dividing the sound at least twice, so that secondary soundimpulses progressing through said resonant members will come into playtransversely of the apparatus and on upper and lower sides of theapparatus coextensive therewith.

7. In an acoustic apparatus, a sound board, and a tube, said tubeprojecting through said sound board and centrally thereof, and aplurality of bell portions, said bell portions continuations of saidtube, and a plurality of curved sound boards connecting s id bellportions, thereby increasing the volume of sound by utilizing its energyin having sympathetic vibration in the sound boards.

8. The combination with an acoustic device, of a sound board comprisinga series of parallel segments of the substantial width of said device,said segments free to move at their inner edges and adapted to transmitresonance to each other at their outer edges.

9. In an acoustic apparatus, a. tubular body having a divided bellportion, said bell portion having exits and a narrow supplemental soundhole the full width thereof, thereby increasing the effectiveness of theacoustic range adapted to said bell portion.

10. In combination, an acoustic apparatus having a tubular body and aplurality of hell portions and a sound board, said bell portions beingconnected with said sound board and provided with exit for sound, saidbell portions having resonant walls and being in size and placementrelative to the general construction of said tubular body, and said bellportions being further relative to the direct communication of resonancein the apparatus, thereby to increase the range of frequencies of soundwhile said tubular body is in operation.

11. An acoustic device comprising a cabinet, a resilient tensioned bodysecured on all sides to said cabinet, and tensioning means secured withsaid body and comprising resilient members of sizes determined by theresonance frequency of said body under stress in said cabinet.

12 In a vibratory device, a cabinet, a tubular passage, a plurality ofoutlets to said tubular passage, and a tuned sound board engagednormally with a side of said tubular passage and with a side of saidcabinet, whereby resonance frequencies of determined time will bereflected into the atmosphere by said sound board.

13. In a vibratory device, a cabinet, a tubular passage, and a soundboard connected therewith, said sound board directly engaged with a partof said cabinet, whereby sound impulses of a predetermined. frequencywill be transmitted to said part; I 4

14. In an acoustic device, spaced walls, a tubular passage, and aresonant member, said member normally disposed between said walls andsaid passage and connected with said walls and said passage, therebyintroducing a measured strain in said walls while in vibration.

15. In a vibratory device, a cabinet, a tubular passage, said tubularpassage having a plurality of outlets, and a sound board of a measuredrate of frequency spanning said outlets, said sound board bein disposedagainst and directly engaged with an inside surface of said cabinet,whereby vibratory impulses of a particular time rate will be transmittedby means of said sound board to and from said cabinet.

16. An acoustic device comprising in mutual combination a cabinet, atubular member, said tubular member having a plurality of iell bodies,and in adjacency, vibratory means connecting said bell bodies and saidcabinet, said means being adapted for an equalization of resonancethroughout the music scale of frequencies between said bell bodies,thereby communicating frequency values generated by the walls of one ofsaid bell bodies to the other of said bell bodies by reason of saidadjacency.

17. In an acoustic apparatus, a cabinet, and a tubular body having aplurality of compound curved expanding air passages, said air passagesbeing of carefully calculated and interrelated proportions primarilygaged by frequency values of sound impulses ordinarily missing in commontubes of the sort, said air passages having a central stem in transverseconnection with said cabinet, whereby vibratory energy is communicated.to the atmosphere.

18. In an acoustical apparatus adapted for mechanical and for electricalvibration, a tubular body and a vertical wall, and resonant means forsecuring said tubular body to said wall without loss of resonance,whereby said tubular body will be spaced a distance from said wall,measured by the ratio of the range of frequencies in use at a par--ticular time to the ability of said means to respond to and change thecomposition of said range of frequencies in the position occupied inconstruction.

19. The method of reproducing music frequencies, which comprisesdirecting sound waves through a resonant tubular body to produce astrengthening of the forces and then further positioning the sound wavesby means of surrounding resonant bodies to have reinforcement andinterference of the sound waves at certain divided and prefigured arcs,in such manner that the resonant bodies will cause certain overton-ewaves to overtake other overtone waves in a chromatic series necessaryfor the frequency relatiQll of the Original music.

20. The method of transmitting sound waves, which comprises directingsound waves through resonant bodies to have an 1ncrease of the initialinherent forces and then

